ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast a wet week for the country’s upper and central regions, driven by weak monsoon currents set to intensify on Monday (today), followed by the strengthening of a westerly wave on Tuesday (tomorrow).
According to the PMD’s National Weather Forecasting Centre, rain-wind and thundershowers with isolated heavy falls are expected in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK); Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Punjab and Islamabad until Thursday.
“More rains with wind-thundershower predicted in upcoming week,” it stated. “Weak monsoon currents are continuously penetrating in upper/central parts of the country and is likely to intensify from 4th August. A westerly wave is likely to strengthen on 5th August.”
Under the influence of these weather conditions, the PMD alert stated, rain-wind/thundershower with isolated heavy falls is expected in Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur in AJK.
From August 5-7, rain-wind/thunderstorm with isolated heavy falls with occasional gaps is expected in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar in G-B, the PMD forecasts.
Rain-wind/thundershower with isolated heavy falls with occasional gaps is expected in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai Kurram, Kohat, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Waziristan, Tank and Dera Ismail Khan from August 4-7.
Rain-wind/thundershower with scattered heavy falls with occasional gaps is expected in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Faisalabad and Kasur from August 4-7.
Rain-wind/thundershower is also likely in DG Khan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan and Bahawalpur on Wednesday, August 6.
For the rest of the country, the PMD forecasts mainly hot and humid weather in most parts of Balochistan, albeit rain-wind/thundershower in northeastern/southern parts including Barkhan, Musakhel, Loralai, Sibbi, Zhob, Qilla Saifullah and Khuzdar on Wednesday.
The PMD warned that heavy rains may generate flash floods in local nullahs of Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Buner, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi, north-east Punjab and AJK.
It also warned of urban flooding in low lying areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore and Sialkot during the week.
The PMD said that the prevailing weather conditions increase the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), flash floods, and landslides in vulnerable glaciated regions of G-B.
